Obstacles

The battleground is seeing teams face and break obstacles on the gridiron as we reach the final two weeks of the war for the playoffs. Ravens flock strong with a pure statement on the Niners' head that was directed with all due disrespect to their outspoken haters in the media. Dolphins began their climb over the "can't beat good teams" speed bump. Browns reach ten dubs despite playing with 4th quarterback. I hit those three headlines, the Lions historic new fortune, and rank the clinched playoff squads as well as those hunters with playoff aspirations. Lets run it.

Flacco Mania is runnin' wild across Cleveland! Browns have now won three games in a row with Flacco leadin' the offense under center, movin' to 10-5 on a campaign that has seen them have four different starting quarterbacks. Browns are barkin' loud going 8-5 against teams still in playoff contention. Everyone wanted to throw shade at them for signing Flacco off the practice squad after they lost their first game with him at QB versus the Rams. Now, the script has been flipped as he has become a perfect fill-in for a team that has life and a legitimate crack at making a shocking impact in the playoffs.

Flacco can still sling those laces and his leadership is an important item needed for a winning recipe if they wish to make their 10-win season matter. To have a guy with Flacco's football IQ and been there before motives is a huge get for the Browns who just a few weeks ago sat at 7-5 thinking their season was over. Flacco's play at QB has lit a fire inside Amari Cooper who is back to being a game-breaker; shreddin' secondaries. Coop broke the Browns' single game receiving record with 265 yards, surpassing the previous record held by Josh Gordon (261 in '13). Amari and Flacco have been creatin' a strong bond: Cooper has reeled in 22 receptions for 451 yards and three tuddies during the three-game winning streak. David Njoku is also creatin' a strong bond with Flacco addin' 4 tuddies of his own across the streak with 235 receiving yards. You gotta be impressed with Flacco's play.

Flacco has been calm, cool, and collected for the Browns. He can still sling the laces and his tight window precision passing is better than half the starters in the league and all the project QBs. Just look at this beautiful spotted laser for the Njoku touchdown:

video via JoshNorris//X

Flacco has trust in his receiver's skill, has no problem puttin' a ball in coverage. He still has zip and incredible precision for a 38-year old QB who hasn't had a full season body since 2017. Flacco comes off the couch to help a playoff aspiring team get wins while puttin' up solid numbers; it's real impressive. Browns hadn't had a QB throw for 350+ yards since Baker Mayfield did in WK-17 of 2018, Flacco now has back to back games with 365+ yards in the air. His play is unreal; you mix that with the fact he has led a Super Bowl winnin' playoff run in his career and you get a dangerous Browns team. They have a quick flip as they play the Jets on TNF... a little redemption game for Flacco. Just more fuel to add to his and the Brown's fire.

The Lions have finally done it! Detroit clinched the NFC North title to secure their first division crown since they won the previously named NFC Central in 1993. The dreaded 32 year drought is over. It's been so long, half ya don't even know the division used to be called the Central (renamed to North in 2002 expansion)! Lions get past a historic speed bump with this accomplishment as they look to conquer more history.

Lions roll into their WK-17 Saturday Showdown against the Cowboys looking to help match the mighty '91 team that had the greatest season in franchise history. That '91 team is the only Lions' squad to win 12 games; winning out would give this year's squad the nod for greatest regular season team in 'chise history. That's the first task. Doing so could land them the number one seed in the NFC (depending on 'Niners/Eagles outcomes) and a chance to conquer task two to redeem the last division champion '93 squad- who spoiled their record season with a quick playoff exit in the Wild Card round to their rival Packers. Gettin' a home playoff game will raise their odds of winnin' a playoff game for the first time since '91.

It wasn't a perfect showin' as the Lions had to fight hard against Vikings' third-string QB Nick Mullens, but they won. They will need to be sharper if they wish to beat the Cowboys who are an undefeated 7-0 in Dallas this year. The x-factor versus the Vikings was Detroit winning the turnover game. That will need to be the same theme against the Cowboys if Detroit escapes the Lonestar State with their 12th dub. A huge game and a huge opportunity for Dan Campbell and his Lions. Beating the 'Boys will give them a needed dose of momentum as they wrap the season and set their eyes to the top prize.

The monkey of not beating good teams is almost off the Dolphins' back after their big time dub over the Cowboys. Fins move to 3-3 against teams in the playoff hunt and 1-1 against teams who have clinched playoff berths. The fashion of victory over the Cowboys was a big morale boost after losing a close game late to the bottomless Titans in WK-14. However, the mission isn't complete. They still have a crack at eliminating the monkey in full and also a crack at the AFC's one seed. All it takes is a slaying of the Ravens.

Hopefully we are in store for an early afternoon banger on Sunday. I thought we would get one with the Ravens/Niners matchup; maybe it comes Sunday instead. For the one seed. For home-field playoff advantage. For the marbles. Now that sounds good. For the Dolphins, it's a chance to beat two top 5 teams in consecutive weeks. A token to get the monkey off the back & to receive major momentum going into their playoff run. Tua and the offense needs to find their top tier balance they had in the early shades of the season. Ravens are a team that can deplete you; and quickly. The lack of balance from the run to pass game in recent weeks by Miami won't cut it against the Ravens. Baltimore proved that with the whoppin' on the 49ers. Fins need to be on their best game. That one seed is vile for them as they are tied for the 2nd best record at home this season. They need to be on their best game from here on out. It's officially tough waters season, lets see what kind of swim the Fins got.

Hey Mike Florio, the Ravens heard your bs rant. How you feeling? Ravens proved again that we give the wrong people attention in media. PFT has been trash from the beginning and Mike Florio is the worst of the worst; glad he's feelin' the heat and eatin' on his words. I don't feel the need to share his words by givin' them any more views, but it was great to see Lamar Jackson call him out after Baltimore's huge dub in San Francisco:

video via Baltimore Ravens//X

What a win for the Flock as they went into the bay and beat around the 49ers in their backyard. Powered by a relentless defense that caused turnover after turnover to sink the ship; the Ravens shut up naysayers as they are one game away from clinching the AFC's one seed to run AFC's side of the table through Baltimore in quest for the Lombardi. It's quite wild at this point to say that Baltimore isn't the best team in football for the 2023 regular season. Ravens are 9-3 in games versus opponents who have clinched a playoff spot or are in the playoff hunt. They are 2-0 against two of the five clinched teams in the Lions and 49ers, collectively outscoring the two 71-25. Now they look to win out to match their highest wins total in the Harbaugh and Lamar Jackson era (14). This team wants respect; it's time we give it to them.

People are slow to talk about Lamar Jackson as a winner in the regular season. Out of the 12 active quarterbacks with 60+ career wins; only Mahomes (76.8%) has a higher win/loss percentage than Lamar's 75%. Jackson and Mahomes are the only two with a percentage higher than 70. Jackson may not be the 2019 MVP winnin' Jackson, but he's had a great campaign and continues to find ways for the Ravens to win. He's locked in right now, and so is the team. The confidence. The brass. 4 quarters of smash mouth football; the Ravens way. I love how linebacker Patrick Queen talks about their demeanor as a team:

video via Baltimore Ravens//X

They are playing with an agenda. They are playing like it's personal. Guys like Florio spittin' and yappin' will do nothing but fuel their fire. Ask the 49ers about that. Ridin' a five game win streak into a battle of AFC juggernauts against the Fins... the Ravens are close to putting things together better than any other playoff team right now. Especially after seeing how the Niners performed in primetime. This team will be ultra-ultra dangerous if they beat the Dolphins and then win out against the Steelers. I don't recommend disrespecting this team any further. They are hungry!

No need to run PRs that include the basement teams that have been eliminated from playoff contention. We are in hunter mode. Playoff mode. That's all that matters now. So, to add a twist I will breakdown the hunters from the clinchers and rank them accordingly. 6 teams are clinched fightin' for the top seeds with 18 teams still having a chance to make or miss the playoffs with the final two weeks of ball loomin'. Allow me to start with the squads in the hunt.

Previous game: W 36-22 @ HOU

Streak: W3

Current Playoff Seed: 5th (AFC)

Founder's Playoff Odds: 95%

Browns are 10-5 this season despite going through a 4-man carousel at the QB position. They now have a cat who has been here before in Joe Flacco manning the ship and this winning run. Browns are playin' confident and with a storm of excitement beating two hunters in the Texans and Jaguars to spot themselves as a sure bet for a playoff berth. Watch out for this squad if they win-out going into the playoffs.

Next game: Thursday vs New York Jets (8:15 pm)

Previous game: W 24-22 @ LAC

Streak: W3

Current Playoff Seed: 6th (AFC)

Founder's Playoff Odds: 85%

Bills escaped a trap game in LA, beatin' the Bolts by just two points to move to 9-6 and the second Wild Card seat. Buffalo rides a three game scorcher with dubs over the Chiefs and Cowboys to resurrect their season and place stability atop the Wild Card race. Bills are winning without Josh Allen being anywhere near his elite self. They face another trap game as the Patriots come to town next prior to facing the Dolphins in a season closin'; playoff implicated wargame. I do expect the Bills to win atleast one of the next two to get into the playoffs, but they have shown inconsistency this season- there is also a chance they go on the derail.

Next game: Sunday vs New England (1:00 pm)

Previous game: L 14-20 vs LV

Streak: L1

Current Playoff Seed: 3rd (AFC)

Founder's Playoff Odds: 98%

I drop the Chiefs down the rankings as I, along with others, are wondering what is going on with them. KC has lost three of four and still have a chance to somehow miss the playoffs thanks to their brutal loss to the newfound Raiders last week. Plenty of distractions blended together with poor chemistry has put the defending champs in some peril deep into their title defense. Thankfully, the Chiefs have the Bengals and Chargers left on the schedj to avoid derail. I am quite confident they get into the playoffs, but I'll ya what- I am not quick to bet on them winning back-to-back 'bardis.

Next game: Sunday vs Cincinnati (4:25 pm)

Previous game: W 30-12 vs JAX

Streak: W4

Current Playoff Seed: 4th (NFC)

Founder's Playoff Odds: 88%

Buccaneers are rippin' up the waters with some Blackbeard tenacity! Four in a row with a monstrous can on the Jags to place them atop the NFC South placing their destiny solely in their own hands. Just two more victims; Saints and Panthers; and they sail to the playoffs as the champions of the South. Baker has this squad cookin' as they are close to forming a dangerous playoff underdog.

Next game: Sunday vs New Orleans (1:00 pm)

Previous game: W 30-22 vs NO

Streak: W2

Current Playoff Seed: 6th (NFC)

Founder's Playoff Odds: 90%

Rams looked in peril after losing a heartbreaker in overtime over the Ravens. LA has since won two games in a row to give them a strong chance at a playoff berth. Thanks to their head-to-head record over the rising Seahawks, I think the Rams secure a spot... all they need to convince me is Matt Stafford under center. First, they must avoid gettin' trapped in the new Meadowlands. A win over the Giants will get them in despite any negative result against the 49ers in WK-18. This team can carry over the same level of dangerous into the playoffs as the Bucs could.

Next game: Sunday vs New York Giants (1:00 pm)

Previous game: W 20-17 @ TEN

Streak: W2

Current Playoff Seed: 7th (NFC)

Founder's Playoff Odds: 80%

Comeback kids! Seattle has grasped onto the final NFC Wild Card spot with a big two game winning streak in response to a four game losing skid. Seahawks are doing it in wild fashion, puttin' full emphasis on comeback kids with both games being won with 4th-quarter comebacks. Despite the big wins; they are still a tough team to bet on with their inconsistency across the season. With the Saints and Vikings losing last week; Seattle now has some major comfortability being a game up on the four hunters directly below them. They win-out and they are in. We move our attention to the Steel City... a big game looms.

Next game: Sunday vs Pittsburgh (4:05 pm)

What a downfall for the Jaguars. I have them rated low as part of me feels that they will miss the playoffs entirely. If you told me the Jags would collapse to this magnitude in WK-11, I would have called you crazy. With all three AFC South contenders losin' in WK-16; I didn't feel either one of them to be higher in the Hunters PRs. Those squad's seasons are in the balance. Of the teams 11-18 (didn't include 16-18), I really only have faith in the Raiders making a shocking twist to the playoff picture... yes, the Raiders! That faith stemmin' from the Chiefs of course, but the Raiders are hot behind their interim coach Antonio Pierce.

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Previous game: W 33-19 @ SF

Streak: W5

Current Playoff Seed: 1st (AFC)

Founder's Top Seed Odds: 95%

Ravens are the best team in football right now after a demanding win over the 49ers in the bay. Baltimore currently has grasp on the top seed in the AFC and I believe they will clinch that top seed come Tuesday next week. Ravens are playing together & with extreme confidence. Winning out and going into the playoffs as the AFC regular season king will make them my favorite to win the AFC title game. Can the flock be stopped? Dolphins will help answer that.

Next game: Sunday vs MIA (1:00 pm)

Previous game: L 19-33 vs BAL

Streak: L1

Current Playoff Seed: 1st (NFC)

Founder's Top Seed Odds: 92%

49ers saw some major steam leave their confidence bar after a depleting loss to the juggernaut Ravens that snapped their 6-game winning streak. How will that loss effect what San Fran had building? With the Commanders next up, I don't think we see too much impact. For Niners fans, you can't look at the loss as black and white. You are ok with them gettin' that loss out of the way when they can. Plus that type of L can help a team find the right adjustments for when they are in the situation that they CAN'T lose. I don't see too far into it, this is still a dangerous team for anyone to play in the NFC.

Next game: Sunday @ WAS (1:00 pm)

Previous game: W 22-20 vs DAL

Streak: W2

Current Playoff Seed: 2nd (AFC)

Founder's Top Seed Odds: 79%

Step one of Miami's mission was conquered successfully as they finally beat an elite squad in the Cowboys. Now they have the Ravens and Bills next up to complete the trifecta to secure the one seed and put major notice on the playoffs in the AFC. Tough task forsho, but Tua Tagovailoa and co. are ready and able to keep shuttin' up the naysayers. That includes myself as I have the Ravens winning this weekend.

Next game: Sunday @ BAL (1:00 pm)

Previous game: W 30-24 @ MIN

Streak: W2

Current Playoff Seed: 3rd (NFC)

Founder's Top Seed Odds: 84%

Lions got one of the biggest monkeys off their back with securing the NFC North crown last week. That was a special feat for the players, no doubt, but they have much bigger dreams and wish to start the building of them on Saturday in a marque battle with the 'Boys in Dallas. I rank the Lions four here, but if they go in and roar past Dallas to snap the Cowboy's undefeated record at home this season then they jump up as my favorite out of the NFC. I definitely need to see how that game goes, but man oh man- I would not want to play this team in the playoffs. If they somehow land a top two seed then it could be a crazy f'n next few months in Detroit, cha heard.

Next game: Saturday @ DAL (8:15 pm)

Previous game: L 20-22 @ MIA

Streak: L2

Current Playoff Seed: 5th (NFC)

Founder's Top Seed Odds: 70%

Dallas has now lost two big games in a row to the Dolphins and Bills as they see their chances for a top 2 seed being washed away. They can change the direction of the waves with a win over the Lions on Saturday. A big game for seeding purposes and confidence purposes in regards to the Cowboys moving forward in the playoffs. They don't wish to lose three in a row before the big dance. Beating the Lions will turn their ship around and back on the right track. Dallas is one game away from finishing the season with a splendid 8-0 undefeated record at home.

Next game: Saturday vs DET (8:15 pm)

Previous game: W 33-25 vs NYG

Streak: W1

Current Playoff Seed: 2nd (NFC)

Founder's Top Seed Odds: 82%

Eagles got a needed win against the Giants to snap their losing streak, but it was a sloppy win as they escaped a Giants comeback. Philly sits with the two seed in the NFC while fighting demons. All they need to do is look forward. Having games against the Cardinals and Giants next is an easy appetizer for them to exploit as they search for title winning team chemistry. As it sits today, they are a team that make it difficult to want to bet on.

Next game: Sunday vs ARI (1:00 pm)

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